Bleach: Sea of butterflies

The wind of Hueco Mundo's barren desert howled as Musashi, Suì-Fēng, Arasaka, and Captain Ginrei stood frozen, watching the two Vasto Lorde bicker in front of them. The insectoid hollows snapped at each other, seemingly unaware of their prey slipping away.

"Why are you so stingy? We'll devour them and let one be for the boss," grumbled the beetle-like Vasto Lorde, its mandibles clicking with irritation.

The ant-like Vasto Lorde hissed. "What if he finds out? You know how he is. I'm not going to be his next meal!"

Arasaka muffled a laugh, but Musashi's hand shot up to cover his mouth. "Don't," Musashi whispered with a glare. "We need to stay quiet."

Suì-Fēng, however, tugged lightly on Musashi's sleeve. Her sharp eyes were fixed on the horizon. "Musashi, look there."

A trail of dust stretched across the wasteland, moving toward them like a sandstorm given life. The tremors beneath their feet grew stronger with every second.

Musashi's eyes narrowed. "Run."

"RUN?!" Arasaka shouted, already sprinting. "I'm not arguing with that!"

Ginrei, Musashi, and Suì-Fēng followed without hesitation. Their forms blurred into shunpo as the dust cloud barreled toward them.

Back where they had stood, the two Vasto Lorde were still squabbling.

"I'll take the two male shinigami, and you can have the girl." The ant Vasto Lorde smirked.

"No, I want two! You can have one!" snapped the beetle-like hollow.

The ant raised a claw to point. "Fine, I'll take the—wait, where are they?!"

They both stared into the empty expanse. Far in the distance, tiny black specks were growing smaller. The beetle Vasto Lorde looked over its shoulder and paled.

"We have bigger problems."

The dust storm loomed closer, and from its heart emerged a towering figure. The creature moved with predatory grace, claws glinting under the pale light.

"Shit..." whispered the beetle Vasto Lorde.

...

In Seireitei, the sun shone brightly over the Kuchiki Manor. Byakuya sat in the garden, his arms crossed and brows furrowed in frustration.

"Liar," he mumbled. "Uncle said he'd train with me."

His mother knelt beside him, offering a gentle smile as she brushed his hair back. "It can't be helped, my little petal. Your uncle is on an important mission."

"Nnnngh. When will they return?" Byakuya huffed.

"I don't know," she admitted, a soft sadness flickering in her eyes.

Meanwhile, in the 6th Division barracks, Sōjun Kuchiki sat at Ginrei's desk, papers stacked high in front of him. He coughed lightly into his sleeve, struggling through his father's work. He paused as a messenger entered.

"Sir, there has been confirmation. Captain Ginrei and Lieutenant Musashi entered Hueco Mundo."

Sōjun closed his eyes, pressing his hand to his temple. "Of course they did," he murmured. "I'll handle their duties here."

At the 1st Division, Head Captain Yamamoto stood at the front of the assembled captains. His grip on his cane tightened as the news settled over them like a storm cloud.

Yoruichi stepped forward, breaking the silence. "Head Captain, I have a researcher in my division who may have a solution. He believes he can open a gate to Hueco Mundo."

Yamamoto shifted his gaze to her. "Call him."

Yoruichi smiled faintly. "He's already waiting outside."

The large doors creaked open, revealing Kisuke Urahara, his hat tilted low over his face. He looked far more nervous than usual under the heavy gaze of the captains.

"Speak," Yamamoto commanded.

Kisuke bowed deeply. "Yes, Head Captain. As you know, we can access the living world through the Senkaimon. In theory, creating a similar gate to Hueco Mundo is possible. However, the reishi there is different, and most importantly, we have no way to locate them."

Yamamoto struck the ground with his cane. "You will create the gate. Do not fail."

Kisuke stiffened and bowed lower. "Yes, Head Captain."

...

Back in Hueco Mundo, Ginrei and his squad sprinted across the sands, their breaths heavy as the dust storm closed in.

"Captain, they're catching up!" Arasaka shouted over his shoulder.

Before Ginrei could respond, something flashed within the dust, and a long blade struck out. Blood splattered across the sands as Ginrei stumbled back, clutching his armless shoulder.

"Captain!" Musashi and Suì-Fēng cried out.

A mantis-like adjuchas emerged from the storm, white chitin glistening as it licked Ginrei's blood from its claws.

"Tch. That was only a taste," the adjuchas purred. "I am Cazador del Hambre, ruler of these lands. Today, you become my prey."

They felt an oppressing green reiatsu that pressed against them.

Musashi, Suì-Fēng and Arasaka were breathing heavily from the amount the hollow was appealing.

Ginrei's eyes narrowed. 'An adjuchas stronger than a Vasto Lorde?'

Behind the mantis stood the ant and beetle Vasto Lorde, bowing with shaking limbs.

"You see, boss? We found them for you!" the beetle said eagerly.

With a sickening crunch, the mantis' mandibles severed the beetle's head.

"I'm not stupid. You tried to steal from me."

Arasaka rushed to Ginrei's side. "Captain, I can't heal that much damage!"

Ginrei exhaled slowly. "Just stop the bleeding. I can manage without an arm."

Musashi tightened his grip on his zanpakuto. "Captain, let me take him."

"No. This one is mine." Ginrei's gaze hardened. "Support me with kido. Don't engage."

The mantis cackled, flexing its blades. "Come, shinigami. Let me see if your blood tastes as good as it smells."

Ginrei's breath came in ragged gasps as he faced the Adjuchas. Ginrei surged forward, aiming a precise strike at its mask. But just as his blade arced downward, the Adjuchas hurled one of its insect-like minions into his path.

The distraction worked. Ginrei faltered for a moment, long enough for the Adjuchas to exploit.

Behind him, Musashi shouted, his eyes wide with panic.

"Captain! Watch out!"

The Adjuchas's scythe-like limb lashed out. Ginrei wanted to spin around, but the attack came too fast.

"Captain!"

Musashi leaped into action, his rusty zanpakutō aimed to intercept the Hollow's strike. But the Adjuchas struck with overwhelming force, shattering Musashi's blade and carving a deep slash across his torso.

Musashi collapsed, blood pooling around him.

"Musashi!" Suì-Fēng screamed his name.

Arasaka gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on the hilt of his zanpakutō. Blue energy crackled around him as he activated his Shikai.

"Shape with joy, Souzoukaken!"

The blade disappeared, leaving only the hilt. He extended it toward the advancing Hollows.

"Souzou no En!"

A shimmering blue cube formed around the Adjuchas and its remaining minions. The Hollows thrashed inside, but the cube absorbed their Reiryoku, weakening them with every passing second.

"Suì-Fēng!" Arasaka barked. "Grab Musashi and retreat! Now!"

Suì-Fēng didn't hesitate. She knelt by Musashi, tears stinging her eyes as she lifted his limp body. He groaned faintly, his breathing shallow.

"I've got you," she whispered. She lifted him carefully, ignoring the strain as she used shunpo to create distance.

...

Inside the cube, the Adjuchas snarled, its scythe-like limbs pounding against the barrier. Cracks began to form, the Hollow's raw power overwhelming the construct.

"Foolish Shinigami!" it roared. "You think this will hold me?"

Ginrei, clutching his severed arm, staggered to his feet. His vision blurred, but his resolve remained firm.

"Arasaka," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You must retreat."

"No," Arasaka replied, his tone firm. "I'm not leaving you behind, Captain."

The Adjuchas struck again, The cube was still standing firm.

"What are you doing?" Ginrei demanded weakly.

"Saving you," Arasaka replied.

With a burst of shunpo, Arasaka propelled them away from the battlefield. The Adjuchas roared in frustration, its prey slipping through its grasp.

...

After, the Adjuchas shattered the cube he started to scream and release Reiatsu, its mandibles clicking in irritation. Its subordinates trailed behind, their movements sluggish from the energy they had lost to Arasaka's barrier.

"Find them!" the Adjuchas snarled. "They can't have gone far!"

One of the lesser Hollows hesitated. "But, boss—"

The Adjuchas didn't let it finish. With a swift motion, it decapitated the offending Hollow, its headless body crumpling to the ground.

"Does anyone else have doubts?" it growled.

The remaining Hollows shook their heads, fear driving them forward.

(End of a chapter)